Improvement in methods of drying celluloid



J. B. EDSON. Method of Drying Celluloid.

No. 219,235. Patented Sept. 2,1879.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JARVIS B. EDSON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOBI TO THE 'OELLU- LOIDMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT lN METHODS OF DRYING CELLULOID.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 219,235, datedSeptember 2, 1879; application filed July 18, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JARVIS B. Ensou, of Newark, in the county of Essexand State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement inMethods of Drying Substances having the Form of Sheets, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

The invention relates to an improved method of drying substances havingthe form of sheets.

While it is especially adapted to drying sheets of plastic material, itmay be successfully practiced in' the treatment of other substances, ashereinafter set forth. a

By the methods heretofore in use the drying of sheets of plasticmaterial has beeua tedious and uncertain process, often accompanied bymuch embarrassment and loss. The method generally practiced has, been toemploy apair of frames for each sheet, the material being securedbetween the frames by means of bolts and thumb-pieces, and then placedin a dryingroom,.or otherwise exposed to the action of a drying agent.This method, requiring as it does that the edges of the sheet be carrieda considerable distance between the frames, so as to be effectually heldby the action of the screws, necessarily entails a loss of aconsiderable percentage of material, by reason of injury to the edgesbetween the frames, and often causes the sheet to warp to such an extentas to be unmerchantable. It alsonecessitates the utmost care in theadjustment of the frames,

' which occasions delay and gives rise to inconvenience.

To obviate these difficulties, and provide a method whereby the dryingcan be successfully, rapidly, and economically effected, are

the objects of my invention.

ofmaterial are placed between the smaller frames, as many being used asconvenient, when they are securely locked together. Heated air is thendrawn or forced through the perforations in the frames until the sheetsare fully dried. To effectuate the circulation of the air, the structuremay be placed in a heated room and the air drawn through theperforations of the frames by suction, or the circulation of the air maybe accomplished in any other manner. In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a plan view of a device embodying the elements of theinvention. Fig. 2 is an end view of same, and Figs. 3 and 4 are detachedplan views of the frames B O. i

A denotes the main frame or skeleton of the structure, which, in thepresent instance, is formed of the four posts to, securely attached attheir bases, and connected by a number of horizontal brace-pieces, b,the brace-pieces, as

present instance they are formedwith broad,

even, horizontal, contiguous surfaces, to facilitate the'insertion andwithdrawal of the frames O, and are guided and rendered more efficientby the projections c, which form lateral seats for the posts a. They arestrengthened by means of bracerods d, and the upper one, in eachinstance, provided with pins 6, whereby it may be supported by means ofthe hooks h on the pieces I), as shown in Fig. 2.

While I attach importance to the particular construction of the frame ofthe structure just described, and claim it as my invention, it isplainthat frames of essentially different con- V strnction may be usedin connection with the other parts hereinafter described with, perhaps,equally good results.

The movable frames O constitute a highly important feature of theinvention, and should be carefully constructed. They are constructed ofany suitable material, and are adapted in size to the frames B, betweenwhich they are placed at pleasure. They are rectangular in form, andhave rectangular interior edges, both their upper and lower surfacesbeing as true as possible. In their sides are formed the horizontalapertures c, which, in the present instance,

, are in three of the sidesa construction which which are locked bymeans of the wedges K,

or in any other convenientmanner. Air is then forced through thehorizontal apertures 0, between the sheets, until they are effectuallydried.

By preference I make use of the means of drying shown in the drawings,which consists in placing the structure in a heated room or compartment,(indicated by the letter 1 and supplementing it with the vertical pipeL, provided with the apertures m, and connected with a suction pumphaving a discharge opening out of the compartment as may be convenient.The frames 0, having the horizontal apertures 49 in three of theirsides, are inserted in place and locked, the apertures 0 being inproxim- 1ty to the apertures m in the pipe L, the parts being soadjusted that when the suction-pump is operated a current through allthe intervals between the sheets in all the sections will be createdsimultaneously. The suction-pump being worked, the heated air is drawnrapidly and evenly into the intervals and across the faces of thesheets, thus drying the sheets very speedily and successfully.

While I do not limit myself to this construction and arrangement, Iregard it as highly desirable, and as having marked advantages over anyother of which I know.

The differentparts and elements which I have described may be varied inmany particulars, and may be employed for purposes other than thetreatment of sheets of plastic material. Thus, sheets of any othernature, as well as articles having irregularedges or outlines, may

be inserted between the frames 0, as may he coi'ivenient, the framesbeinglocked to n1 p the projecting parts or points of the edges. In

this way hides and other material may be successfully and rapidly dried.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The process of drying material having the form of sheetshereindescribed, which consists in locking the material between frameshaving horizontal apertures, and creating a current of air through theapertures and over the surfaces of the material, substantially as setforth.

2. A process of drying material having the form of sheets, in which aseries offrames having apertures and suitable interior edges areemployed to hold the material, substantially as set forth.

3. A process of drying material having the form of sheets, in whichcurrents of air are circulated simultaneously through two or more seriesof frames provided with apertures to admit the air, substantially as setforth.

4. The frame or structure consisting of the posts a, secured attheirbases, the brace-pieces b, and frames B, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the frames B and G with the wedges K, or theirequivalents, substantially as specified.

6. The frames 0, provided with apertures on three of their sides,substantially as set forth. 7. The frame A, connected by the bracepiecesI), in combination with the frames B (J, the latter having apertures,substantially as set forth.

8. The rectangular frames B, having projections 0, in combination withthe posts a, substantially as specified.

9. In a machine for drying sheets, the combination of two or morelocking-plates, two or more smaller plates having apertures, and a meansfor supplying air, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing improvement in methods of dryingsubstances having the form of sheets, as aboved described, I havehereunto set my hand this 10th day of July, 1879.

JARVIS B. EDSON.

Witnesses:

CHAS. 0. GILL, WM. BRO. SMITH.

